Capital One CC Bites!

[BignRichfan]

My hubby was laid off in December and just went back to work in January so we fell behind on 2 of our Capital one cards. We called to explain the situation and a man put us on a payment plan to catch us up. This I mind you was after 2 months of late fees and over the limit fees and 10 phone calls a day from them no lie. After setting up the payment plan he told us if we make 2 payments on each account he would wipe out all of the fees we were charged and then we we would be back to pre default status. We were all happy. I made one payment on each account and was scheduled to make the next payment by march 28th. Well here were still getting 10 calls per day from 8 am to 9 pm it was so bad I just shut my ringer off and the day befor yesterday we get 2 letters in the mail saying how our accounts are seriously past due and so on. Well my husband is pissed at this point and calls them, He gets this woman who cannot even speak english at all basically and she had no idea what he was even saying so he asked to speak to her supervisor, well she got all upset at him. She was upset! How does she think we feel? Finally after 45 minutes of arguing with her she put her supervisor on after my husband asked her for a second time. The supervisor spoke english thank god and he explained that we had made payment arangements over a month ago with a man and we gave her his name and we have already made payments. She said we don't do those kind of arangements. Can you beleive this? I was freekin out at this point. She wanted us to send double payments in and she said she couldnt erase the late fees and such which is bull because my other credit card companies are doing it. We were on the phone for 2 hours with these people. Well my husband got here name and employee id # because we told her if this payment plan does not work this time and if anyone from your company calls our house again we are suing for harrasement. Well they did call about 1 hr later but not since then. My advice is if you do payment plans with these credit card companies get the employees name and work id's! I got scammed as far as im concerned.

[homeCooking]

Hi Big

I also had a very bad experience with capitol one CC years ago. I just moved into my new address and forwarded all the mail to the new house. For some reason their credit card bill instead of going to the new address it was returned to them.

A month later I remember about this CC and I called to find out what happened with the bill. I explained them that I just moved and I needed a copy of the bill to pay. The CS representative started screaming " no kidding" at me that I should have called and change my address. I told her I knew that and I just wanted her to fax me the bill so I could pay it.

She wanted me to pay over the phone but the balance sounded too high and I wanted to check my receipts against it. Anyway it was a horrible experience so I told them I would pay over the phone but I wanted to cancel too. Then they transfer me to a supervisor that threatened me about closing my account saying that they would charge me 100 dollars if I tried to open one with them again...go figure...!!!

They are the worse ever after American Express.....

I opened an AMEX card 3 years ago just to get 25,000 miles with Delta. (that was the only reason I opened the card with them).

Then after a year I didn't see the miles in my account and I called to inquire about it and they said that the CS representative that open my account forgot to tell me that the offer was already expired..WHAT THE $%##$????
So I closed my account with them and I had to go again thru the same BS....

Now I only use CC from credit unions and Bank of America...
YOU LIVE AND LEARN!!

[sweeps]

That really sucks, BignRichFan. I would keep calling them -- at different times of the day until you get someone who will listen to your case.

Whenever a company rep makes an offer like this, writing down his or her name and ID, a confirmation number, the date and time of the call, etc. is good but it's not enough. Ask to have the terms sent to you in writing. Email is good; fax or snail mail is better. The company has nothing to lose by denying the deal ever happened; you on the other hand have everything to lose.

Keep us posted...

[Russell]

Yes we had a similar experience with Travelocity.com when we booked our travel package to Hawaii. After buying a package online we changed the airports within 24 hours, this change was done by calling them (not online) to avoid any confusion and we were assured it was done and we wouldn't be double charged for the same package. Guess what ? yep, they charged us twice. We called them again and explained to them the whole story to which the lady said "sorry but we don't cancel and re-book so you must have misunderstood". Then she started giving my wife an attitude and refused to allow my wife to speak with the supervisor. My wife got very angry because in this country 'the customer is always right', she hung up, calmed herself down and then called again asking to speak with a supervisor (without explaining anything to the representative). The supervisor was nice enough to pull up the records and they found an error on their end, took full responsibility for the mixup and credited us back for the original booking.

I'm not sure what we would've done if the supervisor wasn't nice enough to help us out...it would've been $5k down the drain ? jeez.

In your case though, you could've applied for a second card and did a balance transfer...specially with so many deals offering 0% interest for 6 mos on balance transfers.

[katwoman]

Originally Posted by Russell

In your case though, you could've applied for a second card and did a balance transfer...specially with so many deals offering 0% interest for 6 mos on balance transfers.

Actually, she couldn't. They were behind in the bills so no one would offer her 0%.

Melissa-Sorry to hear about your Cap 1 experience. The best thing you can do is to file a complaint with your Attorney General, the FTC (there is an online complaint form) and I believe, the OCC if they still oversee Cap 1. Don't expect too much from these avenues. It's a way for them to keep tabs on what is being done to consumers by Cap 1. They are well known in the industry as a bunch of real dogs.

You might also want to try www.planetfeedback.com and send a complaint thru them to Capital 1. A representative from their executive office will reply and you can probably straighten out most of this mess.

I really hate Cap 1. They are the lowest of the low.

[Russell]

Originally Posted by katwoman

Actually, she couldn't. They were behind in the bills so no one would offer her 0%.

You have a good point there but I didn't think the credit reporting was that quick to update their records.

[Ima saver]

What this teaches me is to pay off my balance each month.!

[Russell]

More importantly it teaches us to have cash covering 3-6 months expenses in liquid savings. However, its not always easy and that's why most of us are here.

[cercis]

Thanks for reinforcing my feelings about capital one. I had a horrible experience with them in 1995. I opened an account to get the free gift (I was in college, this was common), used it a couple of times and then called to cancel it. Well, apparently they didn't process my cancellation notice but never sent any statements. Then I get a statement for an annual fee. I called and told them I canceled it and they said they had no record of my cancellation. I refused to pay it and was told they would tack on late charges and interest and I would eventually have to pay it so I should just pay the $25 fee.

I griped and griped. DH griped and griped. They finally waived the fee and then expected me to keep the card. It was on my credit report as a late pay when we bought our house in 2001. Ooooh, I was pissed. The lender said it didn't matter, it was a long time ago, etc, but I was still pissed. A ding on my credit because of an error on their part?

So yeah, when I get a capital one offer in the mail it goes straight to the shredder.

[MyMoneyForest]

Bummer, sounds like you got cheesed.

[kashi]

Wow, thanks for that info. I felt bad a couple of years ago when Capital One denied my credit application (for no good reason I could see, I have always had good credit). I'm glad they denied me! Sorry to hear about your experiences.

[jmjj215]

Originally Posted by Russell

More importantly it teaches us to have cash covering 3-6 months expenses in liquid savings. However, its not always easy and that's why most of us are here.

I'd say why not have the best of both worlds. Don't carry a balance, and have 3-6 months of cash for emergencies such as job loss.

[BignRichfan]

Well I look at it this way I got screwed, but if I can prevent just a few of you good people on this board from becoming their customers and possibly getting the shaft like I did then I kind of
feel justified alittle. They have no idea what the power of the word of mouth can do. I agree to pay your debts off every month if possible and have 3-6 months of cash on hand which I don't do either of. We live pay to pay and hubby had 3 days of jury duty last week and his work truck is down today so no work for him today. 4 days off his paycheck this time around. It's like it never ends for us. Anyway I will keep close tabs on my account with Capital One and if they don't do what they promosed to do this time I am calling the attorney general and filling a report. Atleast they should look into it, because I am trying to do the right thing and pay back my debts not just ignore them. Hey good news though atleast they have stopped calling me for now :O) So that's a plus. I'll keep you all updated.

[katwoman]

Originally Posted by cercis

Thanks for reinforcing my feelings about capital one. I had a horrible experience with them in 1995. I opened an account to get the free gift (I was in college, this was common), used it a couple of times and then called to cancel it. Well, apparently they didn't process my cancellation notice but never sent any statements. Then I get a statement for an annual fee. I called and told them I canceled it and they said they had no record of my cancellation. I refused to pay it and was told they would tack on late charges and interest and I would eventually have to pay it so I should just pay the $25 fee.

I griped and griped. DH griped and griped. They finally waived the fee and then expected me to keep the card. It was on my credit report as a late pay when we bought our house in 2001. Ooooh, I was pissed. The lender said it didn't matter, it was a long time ago, etc, but I was still pissed. A ding on my credit because of an error on their part?

So yeah, when I get a capital one offer in the mail it goes straight to the shredder.

They were FAMOUS for pulling this kind of stunt! It's the very same one that I have a ding for on my report, too! I know they've been sued (class action) over it. It will literally take a summons for them to take it off your report.

[cercis]

It's off my report now, but only because it's 10 years old. I'm sure if it hadn't naturally fallen off, it would still be there.

[debtfreeme]

Credit Crad companies often record the calls. Ask for teh recording number then ask to speak to the supervisor to verify the recording number and to verify the deal. Then request to have it sent in writing.

[debtfreeme]

under some consumers act you are allowed to request from creditors that they only contact you in writing. Tell them that what they are doing constitutes harrassment. Get the name and id of the person you are talking to THEN tell them that the only way you will communicate with them from now on is in writing.

[Firefly]

Originally Posted by jmjj215

I'd say why not have the best of both worlds. Don't carry a balance, and have 3-6 months of cash for emergencies such as job loss.

I agree!

[tagrims]

I would never use Capital One just for the fact that I receive 10 CC offers a week from them, one a day to my full name and short name (Matthew then Matt) then my fiancee living at the same address averages 3 a week....
I keep sending back the business reply cards empty hoping that I at least hurt their proft margin a little.

I hate Capital One....

[BignRichfan]

Well heres a good one for you all, I got screwed by the first so called customer service rep who set up a payment plan right then I worked out a plan with the supervisor on call #2 after I sent in money for payment plan #1 that didnt exist according to the supervisor. Now they call my house the other day and say there own supervisor did not set up any payment plans with me! When I tell you I went balistic on them you people could not even fathem. I have sent these people hundreds of dollars already for this wonderful repayment plan 2 times now on time and have never refused to pay and all they can say is we understand your frustration. I said lady you have no idea how frustrated I am. She expected me to send her $290! I said I am not sending you another dime until I contact the PA attorney General to file a complaint. She didnt know what to say. I also told her to stop calling my house because it is harrasement because I have caller id and they call 10 times a day. She tried to argue and say they don't. Then she pretty much hung up on me. I mean twice now im supposed to have payment plan and all they keep doing is hitting me with all these late fees and over the limit fees which they should not be doing according to my repayment plan. I am so sick of this already. It makes me look like the bad guy when they are they bad one's. So im off to file my complaint and maybe then we'll get somewhere. Thanks.